Victoria man announces bid for US Congress

Bret Baldwin on Thursday announced his intent to run as an Independent candidate for U.S. Congressional District 27 in the November election.

He made the announcement at 1 p.m. in DeLeon Plaza.

The location had sentimental value, as one DeLeon Plaza lamp stand is engraved with the name of Baldwin's great-great-grandfather, Victoria city leader Henry Sporrer.

Baldwin said he chose to announce Thursday to let people know they had an option between a Republican, Democrat and Independent candidate this election season. He said he also needed 500 signatures - validated signatures from registered voters in the district who won't vote in primaries on May 29 - to make it onto the general ballot.

He plans to begin collecting signatures in the coming days.

The San Marcos man was raised in Victoria and now works as a consultant for Straet Global Consulting. He is also a financial representative for Northwestern Mutual.

Baldwin said he felt it was time for Independent representation in the nation's Capitol, and for representation that aligned with South Texas values.

"I'm tired of seeing the parties so polarized that we can't get anything done in Washington," he said.